MICK Fitzgerald, who enjoyed a celebratory moment at Sandown last Saturday when notching the 1,000th win of his career, aims for quality rather than quantity at Cheltenham tomorrow.

The Lambourn-based Irishman, one of only nine jump jockeys in Britain to have reached four-figures on the scoresheet, teams-up with the well-supported Fondmort in the £110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase.

A horse with a fine course record, Fondmort won the Tripleprint Gold Cup on this track last December and has since finished twice in red-hot handicaps at Cheltenham, which includes the Mildmay Of Flete at the big Festival meeting in March.

Although Fondmort lacks a previous outing this season, trainer Nicky Henderson took the trouble to give him a racecourse gallop at Kempton last week, which he considers will put him spot-on for this carefully-selected target.

Poliantas, who had the measure of Fondmort here in April, will be well fancied to confirm his superiority. But on 10lb worse terms, I fancy the tables may be turned.

Dissecting this race without paying serious respect to Martin Pipe would be a major mistake. The Somerset trainer has won it for the last three years, and is strongly represented again tomorrow with a squad which includes It Takes Time and last year's winner, Cyfor Malta.

The Pipe runners will not be short of supporters, but neither too will Fondmort and Fitzgerald, a combination which, I fancy, will prove hard to beat.

Gralmano was a winner at Wetherby last time and Kevin Ryan's popular campaigner heads to Cheltenham with fine prospects of following-up in the £40,000 Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle.

Successful on the Flat, over hurdles and also over fences, Gralmano gained a notable success two weeks ago when landing the Grade 2 John Smith's Hurdle in the hands of Graham Lee.

Amateur rider Miles Seston, who is attached to Ryan's Hambleton yard, takes over tomorrow and his 7lb allowance will come in handy in reducing Gralmano's hefty burden.

In the Tom Albert Mines Memorial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, Web Perceptions will be a popular choice.

The three-year-old has taken to hurdling like the proverbial duck to water and has won all his three starts to date, including one over this course and distance.

The £50,000 Open Trophy Handicap Chase offers the classy Ad Hoc a good opportunity to start his campaign on a winning note, while prolific winner Brother Joe will surely be hard to beat in the Peter Bromley Novices' Chase, named in honour of the late BBC Radio Five Live commentator, which kicks-off the high-class Cheltenham programme.

At Wetherby, the £15,000 Consort Travel Handicap Hurdle, over two miles, takes pride of place and nap selection Konker is taken to oblige for Mary Reveley, whose team is now starting to return to form.

A previous winner over this course and distance, Konker ran a creditable race on the Flat 12 days ago, an outing which should have set him up nicely for this target.

Fly Kicker showed plenty of grit when winning at the last Wetherby meeting and Wilf Storey's gelding is taken to follow-up in the Rocom Novices' Hurdle.

Tipsy Mouse is fancied to come out on top in four-runner the 'Francis Cummins Testimonial' Novices' Handicap Chase, a race named in honour of the Leeds Rhinos Rugby League player. Many of the team, including Cummins, plus supporters and friends, will be attending tomorrow's meeting.

Also worth noting at Wetherby is Hunters Tweed in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Chase.

Peter Beaumont's gelding ended last season by winning his final two completed starts. It would be no surprise to see him pick up where he left off in this contest over an extended three miles.

Saturday's tips:

CHELTENHAM

1-00 Brother Joe

1-35 Web Perceptions

2-10 Gralmano

2-45 Fondmort

3-20 Ad Hoc

3-50 Gone Too Far

WETHERBY

12-15 Paphian Bay

12-45 Pepeta

1-15 Fly Kicker

1-45 Konker (NAP)

2-20 Tipsy Mouse

3-00 Weston Rock

3-35 Hunters Tweed

Saturday's other meetings are at Ayr, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton

Updated: 12:44 Friday, November 14, 2003